Book protector and mailer

ABSTRACT

A light-weight molded plastic book protector and mailer consisting of rigid book edge embracing members secured about the periphery of the book by a transparent envelope formed from a transparent sheeting.

D United States Patent 1191 [111 3,809,31 1 Fohrman et a]. May 7, 1974[541 BOOK PROTECTOR AND MAILER 2.758.772 8/1956 Williams 206/46 FR x[76] Inventors: Seymour F. Fohrman, 8242 229/87 R McCormick Blvd-1Skokie, 60976; 2:5l7:801 8/1950 Roush .2: I: John Chmela, 5 Davis1,619,011 3/1927 Agar Morton Grove, [11. 60053 1929161 10/1933 Coffin eta1. 229/14 C X [22] Filed: May 17, 1972 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS2 Appl NO: 250 835 261.001 9/1964 Australia 2(16/65 S PrimaryE.ranziner-William 1. Price {52] L5. Cl. 229/87 R, 206/46 FR, 206/62 R,AMI-5mm Emmmer Stephn Garbe 206/65 S. 229/DIG. 1, 248/3451 Attorney,Agent, or Firm-Edward C. Threedy [51] Int. Cl 865d 65/10, B65d 85/30[58] Field of Search 229/87 R,DIG. 1, 14 C;

206/46 FR, 4533, 62 R, 65 s; 248/3451 [57] ABSTRACT A light-weightmolded plastic book protector and mai- [56] References Cited 1erconsisting of rigid book edge embracing members UNITED STATES PATENTSsecured about the periphery of the book by a transparent envelope formedfrom a transparent sheeting. 2,717,073 9/1955 Young .1 206/45.33 X3,047,142 7/1962 Heffley 206/62 R 3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures minnow 1m4 m 3 1: Z :1 I u r" 1 5 l t E I l l: n l 1 n l n: E r t 1 BOOKPROTECTOR AND MAILER SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIGN A book mailer which mayalso be utilized for protecting the book in storage, comprising a pairof molded, channeled, generally U-shaped, members, each of a size toembrace a substantial portion of the peripheral edges of a book andparticularly the corners thereof, with the channel being of sufficientdepth to receive and hold therein the spine as well as the loose edgesof the book.

For use as a mailer, the edge-embracing members are fixedly securedabout the book by a transparent envelope formed from a thermoplasticheat-shrinkable sheeting or semi-rigid acetate or other protectivecoverings having sufficient tensile strength to prevent accidentaltearing, ripping or puncturing. Secured to the sheeting in any suitablemanner may be an acceptable post-office mailing label, and in fact thesame may be placed upon the inner surface of the envelope to preventaccidental detachment or destruction of the label.

For protective use in the storage of books, the edgeembracing membersmay be employed without the sheeting, and, as such, these members areformed from relatively thin yet rigid material which adds substantiallynothing to the size or thickness or weight of the book and thus may beretained upon the book during storage upon library shelves or withinbookcases.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION While the invention may be capable of various uses,its present form of use is shown in the embodiment illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the book protector and mailer as itappears in use;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the unassembled portions of theinvention, showing each in its relative position one to another;

FIG. 3 is a detailed sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary detail view of a modified form of construction;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional detail view of the construction shownin FIG. 4..

The present conventional book mailers are normally constructed fromheavy cardboard or corrugated board or the like and completely cover allthe exposed surfaces of the book, thus adding greatly to its weight andbulk and concealing from view the cover'thereof, and, once used, themailer has no utility and is discarded or destroyed. The most vulnerableportions of the book are its corners and the spine thereof, and withthat in mind it is the purpose of the present invention to provideprotection to these portions of the book while not adding to its overallsize, weight, or bulk.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown in perspective the present inventionutilized as a book mailer. In such use, a book is contained withinedge-engaging protectors l1 and 12 which are in turn secured in suchposition by an envelope 13 made from a transparent heatshrinkableplastic sheeting 14.

It is apparent from the drawings that the two edgeengaging protectors 11and 12 are similar in construction and therefore only one will bedescribed in detail, identical primed reference numerals being appliedto the other.

As shown in FIG. 2, the edge-embracing member 11 comprises a one-piecemolded plastic U-shaped body 15. The body 15 is provided with side walls16 and 17 which form therebetween an open channel 18 As previouslynoted, the corners of a book are the most vulnerable portions andtherefore require a greater degree of protection during transit or instorage. To this end, the side walls 16 and 17 of the U-shaped body 15that adjoin the parallel arm portions 19 and 20 of such body 15,increase in width as they approach their junction with the side walls 16and 17 of the medial portion 21 of the body, attaining their greatestwidth adjacent to the corners 22 and 23.

When used as a mailer, each of the members 11 and 12 are placed upon thebook such that their respective medial portions 21 and 21' will embracewithin the channel portions thereof the top and bottom edges of the book10. The respective parallel side arms 19 and 20 will embracerespectively a portion of the open side edge of the book and the spine24 (see FIG. 3) of the book.

The book 10 when encased in the edge-embracing members 11 and 12 is thenplaced within the envelope 13 formed by the plastic sheeting 14 which isthen heatsealed and shrunk to a taut hermetic envelope. In suchcondition, the book is ready for mailing or, if desired, for storage. Ineither case, the book is protected from damage and is sealed from dustand moisture.

After use as a mailer and upon removal of the envelope 13, the members11 and 12 may be retained for use to protect the book while it isstored, such as upon the shelves of a library or within a bookcase,without objectionably adding to its overall size or bulk. The ease ofremoval of the members 11 and 12 when the book is to be used, as well asthe ease of replacement of such members 11 and 12 upon the book when itis desired to store the same, makes for a convenient and attractivemeans of protection.

As an added measure of protection for the corners of the book, there isillustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, a modified corner structure incorporatedin the members 11 and 12. In such modified corner construction, aportion of each of the corners 22, 23, 22' and 23, indicated at 25, iscaused to be displaced outwardly from the normal longitudinal plane ofthe medial portions 21 and 21' so as to remain out of contact, asindicated at S, with the corners of the book. It is apparent that whileone edge of the book forming the corner may be in flat facial abutmentwith the corresponding run of the side arms 19, 19', 20, and 20 of therespective members 1 1 and 12, the exact apex of the corner of the bookcannot engage in physical contact with a corresponding corner of theprotective members, and thus cannot be damaged.

It is apparent that by utilizing the invention, very little weight isadded to that of the book, thus reducing the amount of postage requiredto mail the book as compared to other types of mailers. This fact,together with the opportunity of continuing permanent use of theprotector members results in a great advantage in the use of thisinvention over any other form or type presently known.

While we have illustrated and described the preferred form ofconstruction for carrying our invention into effect, this is capable ofvariation and modification without departing from the spirit of theinvention. We, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precisedetails of construction set forth, but desire to avail ourselves of suchvariations and modifications as come within the scope of the appendedclaims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire toprotect by Letters Patent is:

1. A book protector and mailer comprising a. a pair of book edgeengaging members generally U-shaped in cross section so as to provide amedial base portion and a pair of substantially parallel side arms, 1

b. said base portion and said side arms of said U- shaped memberprovided with laterally extending side walls spaced apart to formtherebetween a book edge receiving channel,

0. said side walls of said side arms increasing in width in thedirection of their junction with the side walls of said medial baseportion of said U-shaped member to provide corner channels having adepth greater than said book edge receiving channels so 4 as toencloseand protect the corner of a book, the edges of which are disposed insaid book edge receiving channels. 2. A book protector and mailer asdefined by claim 1, further defihed by providing that the junctionsbetween said base portion and said side arms of said U- shaped memberare displaced outwardly of the longitudinal plane of said base portionand said side arms so as to be spaced from and out of Contact with acorner of a book positioned within said book edge receiving channels.

3. A book protector and mailer as defined by claim 1 and further definedas providing that said U-shaped

1. A book protector and mailer comprising a. a pair of book edgeengaging members generally U-shaped in cross section so as to provide amedial base portion and a pair of substantially parallel side arms, b.said base portion and said side arms of said U-shaped member providedwith laterally extending side walls spaced apart to form therebetween abook edge receiving channel, c. said side walls of said side armsincreasing in width in the direction of their junction with the sidewalls of said medial base portion of said U-shaped member to providecorner channels having a depth greater than said book edge receivingchannels so as to enclose and protect the corner of a book, the edges ofwhich are disposed in said book edge receiving channels.
 2. A bookprotector and mailer as defined by claim 1, further defined by providingthat the junctions between said base portion and said side arms of saidU-shaped member are displaced outwardly of the longitudinal plane ofsaid base portion and said side arms so as to be spaced from and out ofcontact with a corner of a book positioned within said book edgereceiving channels.
 3. A book protector and mailer as defined by claim 1and further defined as providing that said U-shaped member is formedfrom a one-piece light-weight molded plastic material, and a sealedenvelope formed from a heat shrinkable plastic material is provided forthe book protector and mailer.